You’re ready to tackle your new home build or remodel your existing home and your trying to decide if you want to be the team manager, coach, and quarterback. Do you have the time and know-how for planning the strategy, writing the playbook, calling the plays, motivating the team players, hiring and overseeing all the players, and pulling all the details together for the win. More likely, you have an idea about what you want the team uniforms to look like, an excitement to watch the games from the sidelines, and vision of a glorious win at the end of the season. If that sounds more like you, you’ll want to recruit pros for the top team positions – in this case an interior designer, a contractor, and likely an architect. Let’s look at who these pros are and why you want them on your home project:

The Interior Designer
My personal favorite team position. Often, choosing an interior designer is the first hire on your roster. Your designer can assist in putting the team together. A good interior designer can help you express your inner vision, asking questions to discover your dreams, needs, and goals, then help you convey your vision to the architect and contractor, acting as your on-the-field guide and go-between. The designer is a mix of detail oriented and artistic, keeping the endless details of your project in play and the overall vision in sight as well. Your designer coordinates with the contractor and often recommends specific professionals in the various trades to see your home design come together perfectly.

You’ll get the benefit of a trained designer’s eye. Your designer can help you see possibilities you might not have envisioned and steer you away from poor design choices. A designer will also keep you realistic about your budget. Often, your designer knows where to find the best prices and has access to resources only available to design professionals.

Your interior designer can suggest color combinations you might not have imagined on your own, as well as textures and lighting effects. Designers can develop 3D renderings to help you see the design and help you shop for the perfect furnishings and accessories at the best prices. Designers stay on top of design trends and have the training, insight, knowledge and artistic vision to bring that WOW factor to your home design.

If you are only looking to redecorate your home, the designer will be the only pro needed for your project (or will be able to bring in pros from various trades to do installations). But if your undertaking a larger remodel or new build, you’ll need to expand the team to include a contractor and possibly an architect.

The Contractor
The contractor guides you in filling your team with star players, they learn the playbook know how to follow it, they can troubleshoot on the field, and they keep the players in line. Your contractor will bring the architect’s vision to life. They are familiar with all the different trades from plumbers to electricians to carpenters to tile experts and beyond. They know which players to call off the bench at what time, who to overlap and who must go in a specific order, and they have a network of working relationships with professionals in all the trades. They are good troubleshooters and can often head off trouble quickly if they see someone veering away from the playbook. They can also help you with specific goals like going green or being energy efficient. They know what works and what doesn’t through experience and who does it best. This can also save your time, money and stress throughout your project and make sure you achieve the home of your dreams.

The Architect
Architects know the league rulebook forward and backward and they write the team playbook. The architect does more than just draw home plans. Architects are well-versed in building codes and zoning laws. They work effectively with contractors to make sure the design is realized. They are creative problem-solvers, often finding ways to help homeowners get most of their wish-list items included in the budget. They guide homeowners away from awkward functional layouts by visualizing what it would be like to live inside the design. They think of all the details from the placement of electrical outlets and molding to energy-efficient heating and cooling to green building options. They also see the big picture, designing total environments rather than walls, floors and roofs. All this expertise can actually save you money in the long run!

Bringing this team together will undoubtedly save you time and stress. You’ll have trained professionals to help you make decisions and keep your project on time and budget. You’ll have others to track the details, make the phone calls, keep the checklists and monitor the work in process. Sweet relief!

Touchdown!
These kitchen transformations represent a culmination of professional knowledge along with thousands of decisions and details that came together in beautiful final designs. Go team!

We are proud to announce that Catherine Schager Designs is now a dealer for Greenfield Cabinetry and Siteline Cabinetry. We are excited to be able to offer these custom-made, high-quality cabinet options to our clients in-house. This will allow us to better streamline the process for our clients. Better control over the process equals a faster time to completion, something every homeowner can appreciate. Being an official dealer for Greenfield and Siteline also gives us the ability to offer our clients excellent quality cabinetry without the showroom overhead adding to the budget. Win-win-win for everyone involved!

Both cabinet lines are part of The Corsi Group, cabinetmakers that offer custom-made cabinetry with a special blend of old world attention to detail, combined with modern technical expertise.

Greenfield Cabinetry prides itself on creating superbly crafted, richly finished cabinets filled with a huge array of options for organization and convenience. They offer a myriad of styles, finish combinations, materials, and accessories. Here is a bathroom project we completed using Greenfield Cabinetry. The clients chose the Estridge door style in composite veneer with Quartered Wenge finish. Stunning!

Siteline Cabinetry offers style for miles! They are a made to order cabinetry company with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities that allows them to deliver in less than the typical custom cabinet lead-time while still creating gorgeous, high-quality cabinets. They also offer a huge variety of styles, finish combinations, materials, and accessories to fit any tastes. Here’s a master bathroom project we completed using Siteline Cabinetry’s Libby door style in Cotton with grey glaze. Simply beautiful!

Stay tuned for more Greenfield and Siteline projects! Scroll through more images for both of these cabinetry lines on our pinterest board.

This was an unexpected update for my clients. They discovered they had a mold issue and had to rip down several walls. The client called me in a panic asking if I thought it made sense to just close it back up and keep it the way it was and then re-do down the line or remodel now. I suggested remodeling now instead of essentially doing it twice. We worked with mostly in-stock materials, although the splurges were the tub and the custom shower doors. We utilized the Siteline cabinetry line that I offer to keep costs down but still have great quality. The clients are thrilled with the outcome.

Here’s a sneak peek at a project that we’re working on for clients in Northbrook. We remodeled their kitchen a couple of years ago and they invited us back to remodel the master bath, bedroom, and hall bath. The homeowners wanted to remove a giant tub that they didn’t use, expand and upgrade the shower, and create a make-up area on the wall opposite the vanities. Below are “before” and “during” photos. We’ll invite you to view the “after” photos as soon as it’s all done! It’s been great to work with Michael Menn and team on the construction, and Diane Lawson of Better Kitchens on the cabinetry!

We recently had the pleasure of working on a gorgeous remodel with Orren Pickell Builders Group that included a master bathroom and powder room.

The finished rooms are breathtaking but it is all the details that make these bathrooms positively sparkle. Check out the gorgeous accessories that come together to make this bathroom and powder room simply perfect.

In the powder room, a hammered copper lavatory sink in nickel and a one hole deck mounted faucet with cross handles in nickel sparkle in a washstand with glass legs. Custom window treatments and an elegant rug add the perfect touch of elegance.

In the spa-like master bath, the details just don’t end. Click through the gallery below for larger images and scroll down for descriptions.

The shower floor is Calacatta marble and the walls are 3×6 field tile laid in a brickset pattern. An Etoile thermostatic control valve trim with metal cross handles in nickel are lovely beside the half round glass shower shelves.

The 2017 Colors of the Year have all been announced and they offer the promise of bold, vibrant shades and depth of layers. Here is the lineup:

An interesting mix capturing an array of moods: light and calming, dramatic and intense, bright and hopeful, and timeless and earthy. Yet they can all work together in a cohesive palette should you choose to incorporate them all into your color scheme. Let’s check out the breakdown from the color experts.

Pantone “Greenery”The Pantone Color Institute describes their yellow-green, spring shade as refreshing and revitalizing shade, symbolic of new beginnings. Meant to evoke those early spring days when nature is waking and awash in bright green, it signals a reset, hope, and life.

Benjamin Moore “Shadow”The experts at Benjamin Moore named their dramatic purple selection “Shadow” because of their fascination with how it changes hue as the light changes throughout the day. It’s a rich, royal amethyst they describe as allusive and enigmatic.

Benjamin Moore Shadow Wall Color

Anna New York Amethyst Bowl

Rachel Ray Dinnerware from Bed, Bath and Beyond

Cambria USA countertop “Williston”

Calvin Klein Bedding from Bonton

Amethyst Bath Tub by Baldi of Florence, Italy

Sherwin Williams “Poised Taupe”Sherwin William’s “Poised Taupe” is a marriage between conservative gray and earthen beige to create a “weathered, woodsy and complex neutral that celebrates the imperfections and authenticity of a well-lived life.” Both warm and cool, classic and modern, it is meant to be an organic, balanced neutral.

Sherwin Williams “Poised Taupe” Wall

Vannaire Tile in Premiere Taupe from Mohawk Flooring

Kahla Pronto Dinnerware from porzellantreff.de

Allen Braithwaite Wallpaper

Glidden Paints “Byzantine Blue”Glidden Paints named a mystic purple-blue shade meant to be comforting and soothing, playful yet peaceful. The describe “Byzantine Blue” as a gender-neutral “purple in disguise” with all the best qualities of blue and gray. It morphs from hue to hue depending on what you partner shades you select.

Byzantine Blue Walls by Glidden

Pratt and Larson Tile

Soft Floral Wallpaper by Seabrook WallCoverings from Burke Decor

Olympic Paints “Cloudberry”Olympic Paints chose a soothing, lavender-purple the dubbed “Cloudberry” intended to be soothing, encourage meditation, and transform you space into a sanctuary. Cloudberry will float you away on a cloud to carefree, airy spaces.

Samuel and Sons Tiebacks

Imperial Gardens Chinoiserie Panels by Mural Sources

Teleflora Lavender Chiffon Bouquet

Anna New York Kivita Platters and Coasters

Lotus Flower Wallpaper by Farrow and Ball

Plum Goose Amethyst Bowl

PPG Pittsburgh Paints “Violet Verbena”PPG Pittsburgh Paints selected a moody, gray-purple they describe as playful, elegant and calming. “Violet Verbena” is expected to appeal to those seeking the popular bohemian look as well as those looking to create luxurious, pampering spaces. It finds a middle ground between masculine and feminine, young and old, work and play.

Purple Quilt from Joss and Main

Oxford Wallpaper by Graham Brown from Burke Decor

Faberware Purple Cookware from Joss and Main

What do you think of the biggest colors predicted for 2017? Check out our pinterest board for even more Color of the Year images.

One hot topic of National Kitchen and Bath Month is learning the latest in cabinet accessories that add convenience and organization to our kitchen storage needs. We’ve asked Shari McPeek, Public Relations & Advertising Manager of Rev-A-Shelf LLC to share her expertise in kitchen storage solutions.

What are the newest innovations available in kitchen cabinet accessories for organizing and storage?

There are several innovations not only storage solutions but their sizes and finishes. A great example is with the increase of demand for Full Access cabinetry you are seeing more organization and storage products being designed specifically for it. You also have an array of finishes and materials being used in products that compliment more kitchens. As for products themselves you are seeing almost all with features like soft-close slides and designs that answer more specific storage needs for food storage containers, K-Cups, etc.

Do you have any tips on the best way to plan ahead for storage needs in a new kitchen?

The first thing I suggest is making a pros and con list of your existing kitchen. Note the areas you are not happy with i.e. having to strain and reach into cabinets to find things, no room for spices, messy plastic ware, cutlery, pots, and pans. In addition, break your kitchen down by workflow for example where you want to prep meals you would want to add knife storage and a compost/waste container or around the stove you would want storage for utensils and pots and pans.

Also, think future forward, do you have kids and what items do you want them to access or not, do you have aging parents who may come to live with you then you might need lower storage for plates or an in cabinet waste container to maximize your floor space for a walker/wheelchair. Finally, don’t forget the lighting! I know it is a bit off task from storage aspect, but it is the perfect time to ask yourself if you want to add lighting, either in cabinets or under cabinets. If not now you will still want to take advantage of having professionals in your home and have the electrical run in order to add it at a later date.

What does your company do best?

Rev-A-Shelf is the industry leading manufacturer of cabinet storage and lighting accessories.

What makes Rev-A-Shelf unique?

With over 38 years of expertise, we are known for bringing innovative products to the market that provide storage and lighting solutions for the kitchen, bath, office, and closet. We use this expertise to create innovative functional products for Face Frame, Full Access, and Inset cabinetry.

How would consumers find your products?

Rev-A-Shelf and Tresco Lighting products are sold primarily through distribution. We do however have some products that are available at Brick & mortar stores and online.

Can your products be installed in existing kitchens (aftermarket), or is it best if they’re ordered along with new cabinetry?

The majority of our products can be installed in existing kitchens, vanities, and closets. To learn more about our products you can visit us at Rev-A-Shelf.com and Trescolighting.com.

Thanks so much Shari! For more kitchen organization options, be sure to visit out the Rev-A-Shelf website. Also, check out these cool storage solutions on our pinterest board.

Some people like the clean lines of contemporary and modern kitchen designs but are reluctant to use it in their own homes because it feels too sterile and cold. That doesn’t have to be the case at all. There are many ways to embrace a contemporary look while weaving in plenty of warmth and comfort. Here are just a few:

Backsplash Pizzazz
There are endless textures, materials and colors available in contemporary backsplash designs! Your tile choices can express your personal style, make your kitchen design pop, and add a layer of warmth if you wish it.

Sculptural Fixtures
Fixtures, hoods and vents are so much more that functional. It’s an opportunity to weave in warm metals like bronze or copper, or even to showcase a sculptural work of art like the Vuelo faucet by Brizo that is designed after the swan.

Trusted Tech
Modern and contemporary designs offer high tech options in spades. In today’s world, we find a solid comfort and reliability in our technology. Yet if you find comfort in the old-school, you can often have both, like the Flex Duo Induction Range by Samsung that offers a blue “virtual” flame.

Curves and Color
The clean lines of contemporary designs don’t have to be sharp. The sweeping curve of the island in this custom contemporary cabinetry unit by Pedini is mirrored in the sleek oval shape of the chimney hood over the cooktop. The overall design effect is minimalist yet sensual.

The monochromatic palette is just one option. No need to think of contemporary design in terms of black and white. This contemporary cabinet designer offers a wide range of colors. Clients can choose from a variety of wood looks, to bright red to soft grays and blues among many others.

If you’d like to explore more ideas for bringing warmth to contemporary kitchens, see our pinterest board.

You’re probably aware that if you want a drop-dead gorgeous kitchen that elicits an awed gasp from your guests and brings a smile to your face every time you walk in, an experienced kitchen designer is your best bet to achieve your goals. Did you know that kitchen design professionals can help you meet your functional goals too?

Today’s homeowners are often concerned with healthy eating habits for their families but don’t necessarily think to mention that goal to their designer. It’s a topic I like to bring up with clients because there are many design tools that can help promote healthy eating. Here are a few:

Kitchen Layout
Studies have shown that room design, furniture and appliance placement, and lighting provide an unconscious influence on both food intake and food selection. Keeping healthy options close at hand and tempting choices hidden can make a surprising difference. An experienced designer can help you make choices that are beautiful while guiding your family to a healthier lifestyle.

Convenient Storage
Experts in healthy eating advise keeping your kitchen well organized with the healthy options close at hand. If you have to dig through a cluttered cabinet to find your juicer or your steamer, you are less likely to utilize it. Cabinetry is now as functional as it is beautiful. Cabinet and drawer interiors can be custom designed to make previously difficult to reach areas easily accessible. Options like built-in narrow pull-out pantry units can stop healthy items being shoved to the back of a deep cabinet.

Specialty Appliances
Refrigeration units are available with smart temperature controls to keep produce fresh longer. You can select glass door modules that will draw your family’s attention to healthy options while modules with custom cabinetry panels store cold items you prefer your family enjoy sparingly. Undercounter refrigeration units are widely available in both drawers and doors. You can design a snack center away from your main work area stocked with healthy drinks and snacks with easy access for your kids. You can also integrate a steamer module or a indoor grill beside your range for healthier cooking options.

Size and Color Cues
Here’s a tip you can integrate on your own. In one study, students offered food on red plates ate less while foods offered on plates in more welcoming, safer feeling colors like white, blue, and green ate more. Storing and serving healthy options on the safe, calming colors will encourage your family to eat more of those options. Less healthy options meant for rare treats can be kept in red containers as a subtle cue to help dissuade your family from grabbing that snack on the run. In addition, the average plate size has increased alarmingly over the years. Select dinnerware sets that include the smaller 9 inch plate, or select plates with wide ridged edges to help influence your family to serve up smaller portions at mealtime.

This tiny Jack & Jill bathroom belonged to my client’s two sons, one in high school and the other off at college. It was time to re-do a cramped, outdated space into something that was fresh but in keeping with the 100 year old house. There was no medicine cabinet, so the boys had been storing all of their toiletries in a wall cabinet that hung above the toilet. The corner where the sink is now had a corner cabinet that housed a tiny sink but really took up a lot of floor space for very little storage.

One of the best things we did (and it was the client’s find!) was to put in a small, wall-hung sink with no legs. It really opened the space up. We also added a recessed, mirrored medicine cabinet that could house the toiletries, and put a niche in the shower area of the tub for storage.

The subway tile in the shower and the surrounding walls, as well as the hexagon shaped floor tiles in marble helped keep the period look. We added a green liner to border the change between the different sizes of floor tiles for a bit of elegance and color. The client loves the space and says now she wants to change her master bath!